Lora Lee Last week, I wrote about how our own energy, including stress, can affect our cats. Today, I want to talk about what stress can do to your cat. How can you tell if your cat is stressed? Cats are very stoic creatures. They will hide when they are sick, or something is wrong. This helps to keep them safe in the wild. A sign of weakness is a death sentence for cats living on the streets. However, cats will have symptoms and give you signs when they are not well. You just have to be able to notice and interpret these signs. A stressed cat will definitely give you signs and if left untreated, can lead to health issues.
I have been dealing with some stress with my babies. At first, the signs were very subtle and easily looked over. As time progressed, the signs started to become more noticeable, i.e., inappropriate bathroom habits and spraying, aggression and decrease in eating. Once I recognized what was happening, I began taking steps to decrease the stress and help everyone back to a happy and healthy life.
Signs of Stress
Like humans, each cat is different and will handle stress differently. Some signs are very noticeable. Inappropriate litter box habits or overgrooming/lack of grooming are signs that are very noticeable and may indicate that your cat might be stressed. Franklin tends to use the bathroom in our bathtub when he is stressed. Prudence stopped grooming altogether when her siblings were bullying her. Hiding or sleeping in spots that they have never slept in are also signs. A stressed cat will seek spots that are away from the hustle and bustle of your house.
A cat who is sleeping more than normal and not being active when they are awake is another sign. Cats are known for their long sleeping routines, but a cat who is stressed will tend to sleep more and be very inactive. Eating habits can also be affected by stress. Just like with humans, a cat who is stressed will not want to eat normally. You may also notice vomiting or diarrhea if they do eat. When Emmet became stressed by the cat drama in our house, he completely reverted back to only wanting to eat dry food instead of the raw diet that he has been on for almost a year and then would throw up because his system was not used to the processed food anymore.
Stressed Induced Health Issues
If the stress in your cat is left unattended, it can lead to health issues. Stress can lower the immune system allowing infections and disease to take hold. Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) are common among cats that are stressed, especially in male cats. A stressed cat can develop colds easier. If stress is affecting your cat’s eating habits, they can lose weight which can start to affect their organs. Overgrooming can cause an increase in hairballs. Stress can affect cats the same as stress affects humans. Well, with the exception of hairballs. If your cat is exhibiting any of these symptoms or signs, a trip to the vet may be needed to rule out something serious.
Ways to Handle Stress
What are some ways to handle the stress that your kitty is having? First, you have to identify what is causing the stress. Did you bring a new cat into the household? Is the neighborhood cat coming into the yard taunting your cat? Do you have relatives visiting? Or is the cat picking up on your own stress? Once you have identified the stressor, you can then work towards either removing the stressor or helping you cat to deal with the cause of stress.
Franklin’s stress bathtub bathroom is brought on when we have visitors that stay for a long time, like holidays with family. I started putting a litterbox in the bathroom for him to use during these times. Prudence moved upstairs away from her siblings. We are still dealing with Emmet’s stress with lots of different approaches. We use Cat Calm from The-Two-Crazy-Cat-Ladies. I have Naturally Cats herb gardens throughout the house. Pam Roussell from Purrrfectly Holistic has done muscle testing to help identify what his stressors are and what techniques I can do to help him cope with those stressors. I started using Convivial House Cat Spray from Cat Faeries to help promote harmony in the house. Finally, Emmet has been taking CBD. All of this has started to get us on the right path back to a stress-free house. Read about our experience with Herb Gardens and Muscle Testing.
Deep Breathes
You may be exhibiting some stress after reading this. We all want our babies to be happy and healthy. Knowing that stress can not only affect their happiness but also their health is scary. However, don’t stress. It will stress your cat. Knowing the signs will help you to identify any issues before they become huge problems. Learning your cat’s personality and being able to notice if something is not quite right with them is important. And remember to breathe. it will keep your stress at bay as well as your cat’s
“An animal’s eyes have the power to speak a great language.” –Martin Buber
